Sheet or card clamping means



H. P. HlNTZ El AL 2,767,610 SHEET OR CARD CLAMPING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 23, 1956 Filed March 19, 1954 I 4/ 37 a3 6 676 42 32 l i:- g l 55 32 I 39 30 48? I w HARVEY R Hl/VTZ RD 5. SCHOO/VMA/(Ef? ATTORNEY 8 AGE/VT United States Patent SHEET OR CARD CLAMPIN G MEANS Harvey P. Hintz and Edward B. Schoonrnaker, Rochester,

Y., assiguors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 19, 1954, Serial No. 417,440 8 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) The invention relates to a clamping device as used on reading projectors and more particularly to a clamping device for securing a sheet or card bearing a plurality of images to a member which is capable of positioning any one of said images with respect to a fixed station or projection aperture.

Various types of devices for clamping an edge of a sheet to the surface of a cylinder are well-known. In some instances such devices are automatically released upon rotation of the cylindrical member in either direction through one revolution. Further, many of such devices are rotatable in only one direction and merely clamp the sheet in position. In the embodiment of the invention described herein, the clamping device is disclosed as used in conjunction with a projection reader for cards having a plurality of photographic images thereon. While said clamping device is capable of securing an edge of a card to the rotatable cylinder, it is also to be understood that it is equally adaptable to securing an edge of sheets of paper of various weights.

Since any one of the images or areas on the card must be positioned with respect to a projection aperture, the cylindrical member is mounted for both axial and rotary movement with respect to the aperture. To maintain the card or sheet in contact with the drum in the vicinity of the aperture, a plurality of spherical members are spaced axially along the casing of the projector. The clamping device provided on the cylinder or drum is rotatable with the drum in one direction for any number of revolutions and is moved to a release position upon rotation in the other direction and in a fixed relation with respect to the aperture. In this way if an image is moved past the aperture inadvertently, the drum can be rotated in the same direction to bring the selected image into proper relation with the projection aperture or can be rotated in the opposite direction through less than one complete revolution.

In the embodiment of the invention hereinafter described, the clamping device shown is integral with a drum which is rotatably mounted on a support member slidably mounted on the casing of the reader. The clamping member is movable radially in a slot in the drum and is provided With a lip for engaging the sheet and maintaining it in position on the drum when the clamping member is in its clamping position. An actuating means movable with the drum and radially thereof engages the clamping member for moving it between the release and clamping position. A spring member maintains the clamping member in the clamping position when the drum is rotated in one direction. A member on the support member is engaged by the actuating member to move the clamping member to a release position at a predetermined point when the direction of rotation of the drum is reversed. A plurality of spherical elements are rotatably mounted on the casing and spaced transversely thereof for maintaining the sheet in engagement with the drum in the vicinity of the projecting aperture and which permit the sheet to be moved freely trausversewise and rotationwise.

The primary object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a sheet clamping device which permits the sheet to be moved with respect to an aperture or station whereby any portion thereof may be aligned with said station.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet clamping device which maintains the sheet in clamped relation to a drum irrespective of the number of times the drum may be revolved in one and the same direction.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a sheet clamping device in which the clamp is released at a predetermined point with respect to the station whenever the drum is rotated in the other direction.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a clamping device which is relatively simple in structure, easy to assemble, and permits transverse and rotational movement of the sheet with respect to a station.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a projection reader in which the invention has been embodied;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the cylindrical drum, the clamping means and the supporting member therefor;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the drum, clamping means and support member taken substantially along line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail end view of the clamp actuating member carried by the support member;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view showing the clamping member in the sheet clamping position;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the clamp actuating member carried by the drum;

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing one of the holding members spaced transversely of the casing and the relation of said members to the optical axes; and

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view showing the interconnecting relation of the clamping means and the actuating means.

The invention is disclosed and described in conjun tion with a reflection type film reader in which a card bearing a plurality of images or prints is moved transversely and/o1- rotated with respect to the projection aperture or station to position any one of said images in alignment with said station. Since the invention relates to the clamping device for maintaining such a card on a drum, the reader will be described only briefly.

In such a reflection type reader, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the card C is positioned with respect to a square or rectangular aperture, not shown, which is aligned with the optical axis, designated as 0. Light from lamp 10 is directed in parallel rays by lens 11 onto the image at the aperture and the reflected light and image is projected by a lens not shown along axis 0. The reflected image is directed and reflected by a system of mirrors onto the rear surface of screen 12 mounted on the front of casing 13 and above the drum 14. The lower and forward end 15 of casing 13 is recessed to conform to the circumferential surface of drum 14. Spaced rods 16 and 16' are journaled in the bottom forward end of casing 13 to provide a track for the drum carriage means 17.

Carriage means 17 comprises two portions between which drum 14 is rotatably mounted, the right hand portion including an end Wall 18, a base portion 19 and a single bearing 20 surrounding rearmost rod 16. The left hand portion of carriage means 17 is similar to the right and includes an end wall 21, base 22 and tWo bearings 23 and 24 surrounding rods 16 and 16', respectively. By providing three point suspension of carriage means 17 by means of bearings 20, 23 and 24, movement of said carriage means along rods 16 and 16' can be accomplished without any binding. The two portions of carriage means 17 are secured together at in any well known manner after the drum has been assembled therebetween.

As shown in Fig. 3, a shaft has an end thereof journaled at 31 in each of walls 18 and 21, the ends extending through each journal for receiving knobs 32. Drum 14 comprises a hollow cylindrical member 35 provided With a radial slot 36 and end plates 37 and 38 which are retained in the recessed ends of member 35 and provided with central apertures for receiving shaft 33. The drum is retained and positioned on shaft 39 by screw 39. In addition to apertures for shaft 30, plate 38 is provided with a cut-out 40 and at the upper end, as shown in Fig. 2, is cut-off at 41 and notched at 42.

From the description thus far, it.is evident that the carriage means 17 supports drum 14 for both rotation on said carriage means and axial movement with said carriage means. By this arrangement a card or sheet secured to drum 14 may have any area thereof positioned with respect to the station or projecting aperture. Turning either of knobs 32, drum 14 is rotated thereby positioning with respect to the station any one of the images or areas arranged vertically of the sheet and aligned with the station. By moving carriage means 17 along rods 16 and 16, drum 14 is moved axially therewith to position with respect to the station any one of the images or areas arranged horizontally of the sheet and aligned with the station. In this way, the drum can be rotated and the carriage means moved whereby the combination of movements will position with respect to the station any image or area on the sheet irrespective of its location.

The clamping device mounted on drum 14 comprises a clamping member 45 having a lip 46 which is movable radially of the drum between a clamping position and a release position, an actuating means 47 which is rotatable with the drum and moves the clamping member between said positions, a resilient member 48 which normally maintains the actuating means and clamping member in the clamping position, and an actuating means 49 on the carriage means for moving the clamping member to its release position.

Clamping member 45 extends axially of drum 14 and has an extension 50 which is substantially perpendicular to lip 46, extension 50 extending through slot 36 into cylindrical member 35, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Near each end of extension 50, lugs 51 are formed outwardly therefrom for engaging the inner surface of member 35, as shown in Fig. 2, to limit the movement of clamping member 45 and to level it in the release position, thereby facilitating insertion of a discrete sheet under lip 46. A stop member 52 is formed from extension 50 at the bottom thereof for engaging actuating means 47 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Actuating means 47, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a vertical depending portion 55 provided with an elongated aperture '56 through which shaft 39 extends, said aperture permitting movement of said actuating means with respect to said shaft. At the bottom of portion 55, a reduced portion 57 is formed at right angles thereto and at the top, an arm 58 is also formed at right angles thereto. Arm 58 is provided at the end thereof with a slot 59 and a shoulder 60. Clamping member 45 and actuating means 47 are preferably assembled before drum 14 is placed on shaft 30. Extension 50 of clamping member 45 is first inserted in slot 36, then arm 58 is inser ted between the inner surface of member 35 and cutotf 41 of plate 38 and moved inwardly. In this position, the enlarged end 61 on portion '57 enters the enlarged portion of aperture 40 and the portion 62 of arm '58 passes over notch 42. Actuating means 47 is then allowed to drop whereby end 61 is behind the reduced portion of aperture 40 and portion 62 is behind notch 42. End 61 and portion 62 together with slot 40 and notch 42 serve to hold the actuating means in position and, at the same time, since both end 61 and portion 62 are longer than the width of said slot and notch, they tend to prevent any tilting or movement of arm 58 with respect to plate 38. Shaft 30 can then be inserted through aperture 56 and the apertures in plates 37 and 38. When actuating means 47 is moved inwardly, member 47 is held so that extension 59 is engaged on one side by nose 63 and on the other side by nose 64. At the same time, the forward end 65 must cam stop member 52 to one side so that continued movement inwardly will position said stop member behind shoulder 60 as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. A relieved section of extension 50, designated at 66 in Fig. 9 comprises nibs 67 and 68 and a notch 69. Nibs 67 and 68 engage the surfaces of arm 58 beyond the end of slot 59 and the inner edge of notch 69 is adjacent the end of said slot.

From the structure described thus far it is evident that arm 63 supports clamping member 50 in slot 36 solely by nibs 67 and 68 and prevents any twist thereof by means of nose 63 and nose 64 which engage opposite sides of extension 50. Further, shoulder 60 in the path of stop member 52 prevents displacement of member 50 to the left and displacement to the right is prevented by engagement of notch 69 with the end of slot 59.

Although clamping member 45 and actuating member 47 are interconnected to move as a unit, they are normally retained in a clamping position, that is, with lip 46 in contact with the surface of member 35 adjacent slot 36, by resilient means, such as coil spring 48, which encircles shaft 39 and has both ends fixed to lug 66 formed outwardly from depending portion 55 above aperture 56. Portion 55 has also formed outwardly therefrom an actuating arm 67, see Figs. 2 and 3.

On wall 18 of carriage means 17, a strap 70 extends between protuberances 71. It will be noted from Fig. 4 that said strap is arranged elf-center and at an angle. A resilient arm 72 is provided with clips 73 at one end thereof for securing said arm to strap 70, see Figs. 4 and 5. The other end of arm 72 is offset at 74 to form a cam surface 75. The angular disposition of strap 70 and arm 72 is such that offset 74 lies in the path of arm 67, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2.

As drum 1-4 is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, by either of knobs 32, clamping member 45 and actuating means 47 are carried therewith and arm 67 is moved over surface 75 without moving said actuating means. With this arrangement of the elements drum 14 can be rotated any number of times in the clockwise direction without disturbing the clamping member. However, upon rotation of drum 14 in a counter-clockwise direction, the drum is rotated freely until the end of arm 67 engages the offset 74 which upon further movement raises actuating member 47 with respect to shaft 39 against the action of spring 48 whereby arm 5% thereof raises clamping member 45 to a release position, as shown in Fig. 2. Since cam surface 75 is fixed in relation to optical axis 0, release of lip 46 from the surface of drum 14 for inserting a sheet thereunder or for removing the sheet thereon always occurs at substantially the same point. Upon release of knob 32, spring 48 returns the elements to the clamping position. A further advantage in positioning arm 72 with respect .to optical axis 0, as shown, is that drum 14 may be rotated through almost a complete revolution in a reverse direction in the event the area to be selected is moved past the station.

Means for holding or maintaining the sheet flat in the vicinity of the projecting station is shown in Figs. 1 and 8 as comprising a plurality of spherical members or balls 78 which are rotatably mounted in spaced relation on plates 79. One of plates 79 is secured to casing 13 on each side of the projecting station, see Figs. 2 and 8. Balls 78, being freely rotatable, contact the sheet on the drum and permit free movement of the sheet either as it is rotated or moved transversely past the projecting station. A pressure pad which is biased toward drum 14 can also be utilized. Such a pressure pad would have to conform to the curved surface of drum 14 and may be similar to the type used in photographic cameras.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that a clamping device is provided which permits both rotation and translation of a sheet with respect to a station whereby any area or image on said sheet can be properly positioned with respect to said station, the arrangement also providing limited rotation in one direction in the event the desired area is overrun. Since other modifications of the invention will be evident to those skilled in the art, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Having now particularly described our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and what we claim is:

1. A clamping device for securing the end of a discrete sheet to the surface of a cylindrical member, comprising carriage means for rotatably supporting and axially moving said cylindrical member to position any portion of said sheet with respect to a fixed station, a clamping member movable radially of said cylindrical member between a sheet clamping position and a release position, actuating means movable with said cylindrical member and radially thereof and having a portion extending axially within said cylindrical member for engaging and moving said clamping member between said positions, resilient means operatively connected to said actuating means for maintaining said clamping member in said clamping position when said cylindrical member is rotated in one direction, and means in a fixed position on said carriage means for engaging said actuating means to move said clamping member radially to said release position only when the direction of rotation of said cylindrical member is reversed.

2. A clamping device for securing the end of a discrete sheet to the surface of a cylindrical member having an axial slot, comprising carriage means for rotatably supporting and axially moving said cylindrical member to position any portion of said sheet with respect to a fixed station, a clamping member movable radially Within said slot between a sheet clamping position and a release position, actuating means movable with said cylindrical member and radially thereof and including an extension extending axially within said cylindrical member for engag ing and moving said clamping member between said positions and for preventing axial movement of said clamping member with respect to said cylindrical member, resilient means operatively connected to said actuating means for maintaining said clamping member in said clamping position when said cylindrical member is rotated in one direction, and means on said carriage means arranged in fixed relation to said station for engaging said actuating member only when the direction of rotation of said cylindrical member is reversed to move said clamping member to said release position and to arrest rotation of said cylindrical member in the reverse direction so that said clamping means in the release position is always in the same relation to said station.

3. A clamping device for securing the end of a discrete sheet to the surface of a drum having an axial slot, comprising a casing having a fixed station, carriage means mounted on said casing for movement transversely of said station and for rotatably supporting said drum and including means for rotating said drum, said carriage means and drum permitting any one of a plurality of predetermined areas on said sheet to be positioned with respect to said fixed station, clamping means for said sheet movable between a sheet clamping position and a release position and including an extension extending radially into said slot and a lip portion for engaging said sheet, an actuating means adjacent one side of said drum and movable therewith and radially thereof and having a portion extending axially within said drum for engaging said extension to move said clamping means between said positions, resilient means operatively connected to said actuating means for maintaining said lip portion in clamping relation to said sheet when said drum is rotated in one direction, and means in a fixed position on said carriage means for engaging said actuating means to move said clamping means to said release position only when the direction of rotation of said drum is reversed.

4. A clamping device for securing the end of a discrete sheet to the surface of a drum having an axial slot, comprising a casing having a fixed station, carriage means mounted on said casing for movement transversely of said station and for rotatably supporting said drum and including means for rotating said drum, said carriage means and drum permitting any one of a plurality of predetermined areas on said sheet to be positioned with respect to said fixed station, clamping means for said sheet movable between a sheet clamping position and a release position and including an extension extending radially into said slot .and a lip portion for engaging said sheet, an actuating means adjacent one side of said drum and movable therewith and radially thereof and having a portion extending axially within said drum for engaging said extension to move said clamping means between said positions, resilient means operatively connected to said actuating means for maintaining said lip portion in clamping relation to said sheet when said drum is rotated in one direction, means on said carriage means for engaging said actuating means to move said clamping means to said release position only twhen the direction of rotation of said drum is reversed, and holding means arranged on said casing and spaced parallel to the axis of said drum for maintaining said sheet in engagement with the surface of the drum in the vicinity of said station and permitting said sheet to be moved freely transversewise and rotationwise.

5. A clamping device for securing the end of a discrete sheet to the surface of a drum having an axial slot, comprising a casing having a fixed station, carriage means mounted on said casing for movement transversely of said station and for rotatably supporting said drum and including means for rotating said drum, said carriage means and drum permitting any one of a plurality of predetermined areas on said sheet to be positioned with respect to said fixed station, clamping means for said sheet movable between a sheet clamping position and a release position and including an extension extending radially into said slot and a lip at the outer extremity thereof for engaging said sheet to clamp the edge thereof to the surface of said drum, a member adjacent one side of said drum mounted for movement therewith and radially thereof and including an actuating arm extending axially within said drum for engaging said extension to move said clamping means between said positions and having portions thereof cooperating with said extension to prevent axial movement of said clamping means with respect to said drum, resilient means operatively connected to said member for maintaining said lip in the clamping position and in engagement with said sheet when said drum is rotated in one direction, and means in a fixed position on said carriage means arranged in relation to said station for engaging said member to move said clamping means to said release position only when the direction of rotation of said drum is reversed.

6. A clamping device for securing the end of a discrete sheet to the surface of ;a drum having an axial slot, comprising a casing having a fixed station, carriage means mounted on said casing for movement transversely of said station and for rotatably supporting said drum and including means for rotating said drum, said carriage means and drum permitting any one of a plurality of predetermined areas on said sheet to be positioned with respect to said fixed station, clamping means for said sheet movable between a sheet clamping position and a release position and including an extension extending radially into said slot and a lip at the outer extremity thereof for engaging said sheet to clamp the edge thereof to the surface of said drum, means forming a part of said extension and movable therewith for engaging the inner surface of said drum to limit the movement of said lip with respect to the surface of said drum in the release position, a member adjacent one side of said drum mounted for movement therewith and radially thereof and including an actuating arm extending axially within said drum for engaging said extension to move said clamping means between said positions and having portions thereof cooperating with said extension to prevent axial movement of said clamping means with respect to said drum, resilient means operatively connected to said member for maintaining said lip in the clamping position and in engagement with said sheet when said drum is rotated in one direction, and a yieldable member on said carriage means arranged in fixed relation to said station for engaging said member only when the direction of rotation of said drum is reversed to move said clamping means to said release position.

7. A clamping device for securing the end of a discrete sheet to the surface of a hollow drum having an axial slot, comprising a casing having a fixed station, carriage means mounted on said casing for movement t ansversely of said station and for rotatably supporting said drum and including means for rotating said drum, said carriage means and drum permitting any one of a pluraiity of predetermined areas on the sheet clamped to said drum to be positioned with respect to said fixed station, clamping means for said sheet movable between a sheet clamping position and a release position and including an extension extending radially into said slot and a lip at the outer extremity thereof for engaging said sheet to clamp the edge thereof to the surface of said drum, means forming a part of said extension and movable therewith for engaging the inner surface of said drum adjacent said slot to limit the movement of said lip wit-h respect to the surface of said drum in the release position, a member adjacent one side of said drum and mounted for movement therewith and radially thereof and including an actuating arm extending axially within said drum and engaging said extension for moving said clamping means between said positions and having portions thereof cooperating with said extension to prevent axial movement of said clamping means with respect to said drum, release means forming a part of said member and displaced from the axis of said drum for moving said member radially, resilient means operatively connected to said member for maintaining said lip in the clamping position and in engagement with said sheet when said drum is rotated in one direction, and a resilient member on said carriage means arranged in fixed relation to said station for engaging said release means only when the direction of rotation of the drum is reversed to move said member radially of said drum and said clamping means to said release position and for arresting rotation of said drum in the reverse direction so that said clamping means in the release position is always in the same relation to said station.

8. A clamping device for securing the end of a discrete sheet to the surface of a hollow drum having an axial slot, comprising a casing having a fixed station, carriage means mounted on said casing for movement transversely of said station and for rotatably supporting said drum and including means for rotating said drum, said carriage means and drum permitting any one of a plurality of predetermined areas on the sheet clamped to said drum to be positioned with respect to said fixed station, clamping means for said sheet movable between a sheet clamping position and a release position and including an extension extending radially into said slot and a lip at the outer extremity thereof for engaging said sheet to clamp the edge thereof to the SLlii'fiCC of said drum, means forming a part of said extension and movable therewith for engaging the inner surface of said drum adjacent said slot to limit the movement of said lip with respect to the surface of said drum in the release position, a member adjacent one side of said drum and mounted for movement therewith and radially thereof and including an actuating arm extending axially Within said drum and engaging said extension for moving said clamping means between said positions and having portions thereof cooperating with said extension to prevent axial movement of said clamping means with respect to said drum, release means forming a part of said memher and displaced from the axis of said drum for moving said member radially, resilient means operatively connected to said member for maintaining said lip in the clamping position and in engagement with said sheet when said drum is rotated in one direction, and a resilient member on said carriage means arranged in fixed relation to said station for engaging said release means only when the direction of rotation of the drum is reversed to move said member radially of said drum and said clamping means to said release position and for arresting rotation of said drum in the reverse direction so that said clamping means in the release position is always in the same relation to said station, and a plurality of spherical elements rotatably mounted on said casing and spaced transversely thereof for maintaining said sheet in engagement with the surface of the drum in the vicinity of said station and permitting said sheet to be moved freely transversewise and rotationwise.

No references cited. 

